Tuesday, April 12, 2016

What's up, dudes. Yo girl is back at it again (at Krispy Kremes - eh? get it?) with some major tunes. I'm feeling so fricken in love with life and these songs have been brightening my days even more, so hopefully they do the same for you!

Light Year - Lo-Fang --> Lo-Fang, one of my absolute favourite music artists, is a pro at combining dark, sensual vibes with delicate yet powerful vocals. I feel like at least once a month I get obsessed with his Blue Film album all over again, and that has definitely been the case recently.

Lottery - Kali Uchis --> One of the many songs my cousin has shown me recently. It's a total sunshine song and makes me want to wear cute dresses and sunnies and walk around lookin' like a cute bad ass.

Keeping Your Head Up (Jonas Blue Remix) - Birdy --> Heard this a few weeks ago and popped it onto my running playlist and completely forgot about it until to day when it came on during a particularly rainy and cold run. It definitely gave me the boost I needed!

Last but not least, this little gem of a video:

--> This is one of those random music finds that just left me smiling from ear to ear! Kudos to Lo-Fang for posting about this!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Since I'm on spring break and this first week has mainly just been me chilling at home and studying (although next week I'm off to Italy - holyshit), I've been breaking up study sessions with some time to watch videos, movies, and read articles just so I don't go absolutely revision-crazy.

In the past I didn't have much interest in self-improvement books and such. I loved talking about self-improvement and really working on myself, but I had this sort of "how would they know what I should do" mentality when it came to self-help books, videos, and podcasts. I just felt like all those people were saying things I already knew, or things that couldn't apply to me. But over the last few months I've really pulled a 180 on that view point, because now I realise that a lot of the self-improvement material out there is in no way forcing you to do anything; those authors and creators are merely telling you what they've learnt and hoping it helps in some way.

I'm now in this phase where I want to take so much in, and learn from as many people as I can. There are 7 billion people out there, all experiencing different lives, and in some moments our lives can intersect and go down similar pathways, so why wouldn't you want to hear their view and learn from and hopefully grow from it?

I've definitely been trying to do that as much as I can, and just really approaching everything as an opportunity to learn, so I'm really excited that recently I've found so many inspiring pieces.

These three that I want to share today are in the form of videos, two are from a few of my favourite YouTubers, and the last is a documentary, which I included the trailer for.

1.)

Cartia Mallan is a YouTuber I've been following for a while. I immediately fell in love with her vibe and the style of her videos, but lately I've adored her even more because she's really started to create videos that she's passionate about. She teamed up with another YouTuber I adore, Emma Mercury, to film this video all about "Finding You". What I love most about this video is just how supportive they are of one another being themselves and following their passions, as well as how supportive and encouraging they are for others to do the same. There's a moment in this where they sort of have a "fuck it, just go for it" discussion about creating and it's really what motivated me to start blogging again and filming for YouTube!

2.)

Koi Fresco is a YouTuber I stumbled upon in a very random way (throwback to the ol' Tinder days), and I am so glad I did! Koi is all about educating yourself about spirituality, science, philosophy, and so much more. He's able to present these usually intimidating concepts in such a personable manner and it's really helped me in learning more about so many of the topics I would've otherwise sort of pushed aside because of their vastness. Many of his recent videos have been absolutely brilliant, but this one had a huge impact me because it allowed me to finally put a term to what I experienced about this time last year. Ego Death is defined as the "complete loss of subjective self-indentity", and although when I experienced it, it was the most terrifying moment of my life, I'm also so eternally grateful it happened because it's what set me on this path of self-discovery and curiosity about life and existence. Hearing Koi talk about his own experience and how it impacted his life really made me feel more at ease with my experience, and it was also really comforting to know that I'm not the only one it's happened to. I'd totally recommend checking out more of Koi's videos - I'm slowly working my way through watching them all!

3.)

I'm going to start this off by saying that I'm a nutrition student, so anything about the food industry really catches my attention, but I do know that that's not the case for everybody, so this may not be your cup of tea, but I do strongly encourage everybody to check out this documentary or something similar (such as the ones mentioned in THIS post). Educating yourself on what's going on around you will never be a step backwards.

This documentary focuses on upside-down nature of the food industry, and just how crucial it is for all of us to be aware of what these big corporations are selling us and the affects their products have on our health. Documentaries like this always leave me feeling even more motivated to continue on this path of studying nutrition and living a vegan lifestyle! Hopefully it has the same or similar effect on you!

So there you have it, my most recent inspirations. I'm a constantly inspired person; I'll see a small butterfly struggling to fly in the wind, a breath-taking documentary on space, or even just a mouth-watering photo of some new vegan dish, and all will leave me feeling inspired, and more likely than not I'll be itching to talk somebody's ear off about it, so I figure this blog can now be my go-to when my brother and cousin are tired of hearing me hype over my current inspiration! I'm hoping along the way I leave at least one person feeling inspired by something new or at least help brighten up one person's day.

Until next time, positive vibes your way
xo

P.S. This morning the Tesla Model 3 was revealed, and holyshit, talk about inspiring. Elon Musk is the baddest of bad asses in my book. Check it out HERE.

Today I stumbled across Steve Corona's blog, which puts a huge focus on "self-experimentation", the exact sort of funky shite I've been into recently. This post solidified quite a few ideas for me, like the fact that I should write like myself, not what I think a "blogger" should write like, or that if you want something, you ask for it and go for it. But the biggest "ah-ha" moment came when I read the above quote. I was lying on the ground reading the blog post on my phone, and after read that paragraph, I just had to put my phone down and think for a bit.

Lately I've really been delving into this idea of being a "complete" person, and by that I mean somebody that has an awareness of who they are and who they want to be, and makes a conscious effort for their actions and behaviour to make the person they are and the person they want to be as unified as possible. I'd like to think of myself as a complete person, but I know that everyday I'm adding more to myself. That's not to say I was lacking yesterday, but more so I'm just capable of adding more now, and I'll add even more tomorrow.

Ultimately this is what Steve is trying to communicate and seeing it said by someone else reaffirmed that at the end of the day, all of us just really need to be the best and truest version of ourself we can be.

Not the version we feel we should be, or the version somebody else tells us to be, and definitely not a completely different person altogether. It's great to be inspired and have somebody to look up to, but there is no point in trying to be anybody else but your true self.

I feel like I've known this for a while, but I sort of needed a wake up call. Something to remind me to be myself with my entire mind and heart behind it. I don't want to hold back who I am just because I'm worried it won't be easy for others to understand me - I want to know that I'm doing all I can to be the best and true Me I can be, because I deserve that freedom and happiness that comes along with being yourself wholeheartedly.

And so do you.

So, really all I'm saying is similar to that oh-so overused yet completely under-appreciated quote of "Be Yourself".

But maybe I'll add a bit more:

Be your best and true self.

That doesn't mean be happy 100% of the time and to never just kick back and relax, that just means listen to yourself because you know who you are more than anybody else, and you know who you can be, and who you want to be.

Like holyshit there has never been a more idiotic yet wonderful word to describe an insane song (tune) that you are absolutely loving.

If I'm being real, I sat for a good five minutes and tried to think of a post title that would work with "banger(s)", that's how much I love that term. I'm just a sucker for strange words - if it makes me laugh you can bet your sweet ass I will find a way to incorporate it into my vocabulary.

OKAY, that's all besides the point though. The point is, I've got some mad tunes to share with y'all:

Sunday, January 17, 2016

I think the worst thing about depression is how easily it's able to convince you that all the positive moments you've experienced aren't real. It sneaks its way in and wraps itself around all the good things you have. All those "I love life" moments where you question how you could've ever felt depressed in such a wonderful world - it takes those away from you. You're left feeling like this depression is your reality; nothing exists outside of it, just you and it. Sometimes not even you - it can even convince you that you're not real.Depression is seriously the most persuasive demon.But I've realised something, and it's become sort of my sword against the demon:

I'm more real than it.

I am me. I am Aubrey Danae Pacheco. I love making my dinner while pretending I'm hosting a cooking show. I get super excited when I see a dog out in public. In elementary school id draw myself wearing pigtails and crop tops with bell bottoms even though I've never worn an outfit like that in my entire life. Sometimes I read scary stories late at night even though I know I'll freak out when I hear a noise in the hall. I have great friends and an absolutely amazing family. I am supported. I am appreciated. I am loved.Even without these things I am real. I am a single human in this universe on my own journey and I am real.

So is my depression. It's very real to me, but it will never be more real than me.

This is MY life, not its.

I am more real than it.

. . .

I wrote this a few days ago after a particularly shitty episode - after speaking to my brother and really getting a chance to say things out loud, I had a little epiphany:

I've always been pretty open about depression and all that, but part of me has been so against really showing everything, and I've realised why lately - I love that people think of me as this bubbly and positive person, so I was scared to show anything that would ever change that view of me. I strive to be a very positive and happy person, and for the most part I am, but that doesn't mean I can't have lows y'know? I define myself, not my depression, and I am a happy & positive person who has learnt to be that way because of those shitty moments, and that's not something I want to hide.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Here's the lowdown:
I initially started blogging to create some sort of extension of myself I'd be able to look back on, but as I looked back on all my posts I realised how I'd been putting forward this edited and subdued version of myself, which is exactly what I didn't want to do! I know it's not like there's a truckton of y'all reading, but more than anything this blog is for ME, and how can I enjoy blogging when I'm not being ME?
I took a break, which then lead to a sort of "purge" of quite a few social media platforms I had been using. I got to this point where I actually despised social media, and how everything felt so fake and pointless, but then I realised how social media and such isn't itself all that bad - how we use it is what determines it's power. Hippy-dippy shit, I know, but hear me out: a lot of social media out there is pretty damn empty, let's be real. They're not promoting positivity and more often than not, it leaves people feeling unfulfilled. I know I've had my fair share of moments where I'm chilling at my desk chowing down on pasta watching these super fit girls go on amazing adventures some cosmetic company payed for and just felt like I was missing out on life or that I'm almost behind in life! Social media isn't some evil power, but if you look at it the wrong way and let it get into your head, it can have a pretty gnarly effect on you. All those people posting pictures and videos, they're real people who probably have just as many issues and insecurities - majority of the time all we're seeing is one split second into their life that has been edited and refined. I don't think anybody really goes onto Instagram or Facebook with the intent to make others jealous or feel inferior - they just want to put forward the best, most appealing representation of their life they can and there is nothing wrong with that. Just don't forget that at the end of the day, your life is yours and just because somebody is leading their life in a different way, that doesn't take away from your life or happiness.

Well that was on heck of a tangent! What I'm really trying to say is that even though I went through a period of not enjoying social media, I've sort of switched gears on how I see it because it's sort of up to everybody to make it a positive experience. I love YouTube and Instagram and Tumblr, but I want to do my best to present myself as true to life as possible and to make sure I only leave positivity in my wake on such platforms.
WOW I am absolutely horrible at getting to the point! The. point. is.
I think I'm going to try my hand at blogging again, but as ME. I'm not sure how long this will go for - perhaps I'll post a bit then get bored again, who knows! But for now I'm excited to start having a place to put all my thoughts and interests.

Not sure exactly how riveting this will be for you all, but as the Camp Rock classic states:"This is real, this me!"
So, buckle up kiddos (how fuckin' cheesy was that?! Grade A material right there!)!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Very specific title, eh? But I thought it'd be best to get straight to the point with this one! As an aspiring nutritionist, I find myself constantly scouring the internet for info about different health topics that have piqued my interest. Over the last two years or so, I have come across quite a few documentaries that played a huge role in my goal of pursuing a career in nutrition, as well as my aim to lead a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle.
For me, my ultimate goal when it comes to health and lifestyle, is to live in a way that creates a positive impact, upon myself and others, or at least yields no impact (i.e. having a small carbon footprint). I believe that a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is one of the best ways to do this, as well as sticking with cruelty-free products and services. In this day and age it's nearly impossible to live completely cruelty-free, as sad as that is to admit, but that doesn't mean we can't all do our part to educate ourselves and make wise choices.
I don't appreciate when others shove their opinions down my throat (that is such a grody visual), so I personally don't ever want to do so either, but with a topic that's so near and dear to my heart, I felt it would be almost dishonest of me to just never mention it on my blog.
Although I do want to share this information, I'm still a novice and have a lot to learn. These documentaries supplied a lot of the facts behind my decisions on how to lead my life, so I feel that sharing them is currently the best way for me to share this information, because the last thing I'd want to do is spew out information that I technically have no right giving out since I'm not a registered nutritionist or dietician (YET!). I know a lot of people won't find these documentaries interesting at all, but to those that take the time to watch even just one, I'm sure it'll make a positive impact on you!

Since there are so many I have here, I'll give you brief, little run-downs of each! I really do hope you check out a few of them and let me know what you think:

So let's start with the most basic and easy-to-stomach documentaries: Foodmatters, Hungry for Change, and Forks Over Knives all focus mainly on the food industry in general and the facts often swept under the rug. These are all presented in a very factual, straight to the point manner, and each make a point in promoting more whole-/plant- based foods. These documentaries do have quite a lot of overlapping information, so even just checking out one would give you a huge dose of reality about our food industry. But if you're looking for a documentary that will REALLY open your eyes, the next three are sure to do the trick….

I know a lot of people tend to avert their eyes and ignore videos and pictures about factory farming and the likes, so I've organised these three documentaries by their "squeamish rating". I believe these three films do a great job in promoting plant-based diets, but they vary in their use of pathos, to put it simply. Vegucated is a documentary that follows a woman in her journey of supporting three omnivores in their six week "vegan challenge". Throughout the film, there are doctors and other professionals providing essential information about the benefits of a plant-based diet. This is probably the best documentary to start out with since it's not so in-your-face with the gruesome clips and photos (there are few clips throughout). But then again, clips like those are what have the biggest impact, which brings us to Food, Inc. and Earthlings. These two are probably the most well-known when it comes to documentaries exposing the truth of factory farming and human impact on animals. I think these two are best coupled, because Food, Inc. has more of a spotlight on the truths of the food industry (e.g. facts about high fructose corn syrup and GMO's), whilst Earthlings delves into the more emotional issues surrounding the roles animals play in humans' daily lives. If I'll be honest with you, Earthlings is pretty difficult to watch. It has gory and heart-breaking clips, and I honestly believe that if every person was required to watch this, we'd have a lot more vegans and vegetarians walking around. Sometimes discovering the truth isn't easy, but I do believe it is completely necessary. We as humans have a huge responsibility to this planet and the other earthlings on it, and currently I don't think we're doing such a great job. Have a different opinion? Check out these documentaries and get back to me.

These last two documentaries are what I call "come-along documentaries" in my head, and by that I mean that they're documentaries in which you follow the hosts' personal journeys. Many have probably heard of Super Size Me, since it had a lot of controversy surrounding it during its initial release. I remember in the 8th grade I signed up for this little "Superfoods and Nutrition" club organised by my english teacher. A few of our meetings consisted of us watching this movie, and I remember it having a huge impact on me. If I was asked to track back and figure out when was the moment in which my passion for nutrition developed, I'd have to say it was after finishing this movie. Fast forward a few years to me stumbling across Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead on Netflix, a fairly new vegetarian with an insatiable hunger for more information, you'd clearly be able to see that. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead follows Joe Cross on his extreme diet change. The results are hard to ignore, but I won't say much more than that - you've got to check it out for yourself (*sunshades emoji*).

SO, that's my little round-up of my favourite documentaries about the food industry. They are all a bit different, but seem to communicate the same idea: we all need to educate ourselves about the food industry, and the impacts we all have on our planet and the other creatures that share it with us. Sometimes facing the facts isn't easy, I'll admit it, but changing your lifestyle to one that makes you feel happier and healthier is absolutely amazing, and I promise you that there are more positives than negatives when it comes to realising the truths we've all done such a good job of ignoring.

Well I'll get off my soapbox now and let you have some time to check out these documentaries. Until next time, I'm sending you tons of love and positivity - toodles xoxo